The timeline of Martin Payero's turbulent first season with Boro

The 23-year-old signed a three-year deal on Teesside last year but departs back to his homeland in Argentina less than a year later. 

There was plenty of hype generated surrounding his signature but ultimately Payero's move has not reached the heights that Boro fans had hoped for. 

Here is a timeline of Payero's turbulent first season on Teesside: 

5th August 2021 – Martin Payero joins Boro

Three days before the start of the Championship season, Martin Payero officially signed on the dotted line for Boro penning a three-year deal after weeks of speculation.

He arrived from Banfield for a fee understood to be around £4 million and was handed the number ten shirt.

11th August 2021 – Martin Payero makes his debut

After being an unused substitute on their opening day draw against Fulham, Payero was handed a start in their EFL Cup tie against Blackpool.

Neil Warnock fielded a weakened side for the game to give them game time as they went on to lose 3-0 at Bloomfield Road.

Martin Payero makes his Boro debut against Blackpool

27th September 2021 – Neil Warnock cites concerns over Payero

Payero was handed his first start just days before during a 1-0 defeat to Reading at the Madejski Stadium as Boro continued their slow start to the season.

After the game, Warnock admitted that he didn’t know what Payero’s best position would be in the side. Meanwhile, his adaptability to the pace of the English game was also becoming a concern to the boss. He handed over those responsibilities the fitness coaches.

16th October 2021 – Payero finds his feet and his first goal

After a couple more weeks out of the side after the Reading defeat due to a training ground injury, Payero is brought back into the fold by Warnock for their home game against Peterborough. He would go on to claim his first assist setting up Josh Coburn for the second goal.

Seven days later, Payero bagged his first goal in Boro colours in emphatic style away to Cardiff City rounding off a 2-0 win and ending Mick McCarthy’s reign as manager.

Boro fans were watching the Payero they’d hoped to see.

Martin Payero celebrates his first Boro goal against Cardiff City

5th November 2021 – Neil Warnock is sacked

Payero started in Warnock’s final ever game as a professional manager as the veteran boss took charge of Boro’s 1-1 draw with West Brom.

Chris Wilder would take over in the dugout as the new manager ran the rule over his players during the international break.

26th December 2021 – Payero gains first appearance under Wilder

With the result seemingly wrapped up against Nottingham Forest, Payero was brought into the fold for the closing stages at the Riverside Stadium.

Boro were on an eight match winning run and Payero had spent the majority of that time out of action with an achilles problem.

9th February 2022 – Payero stretched off against QPR

In the days following Boro’s huge win against Manchester United in the FA Cup, they travelled to West London for a midweek tie.

Payero came on as a substitute at Old Trafford and was one of the scorers in the penalty shootout. However, he was an 87th minute substitute as Boro held on to a 2-2 draw. It ended in disaster as Payero lunged into a tackle but came off worse ending up with an ankle injury that effectively ended his season.

16th February 2022 – Wilder cites his own concerns with Payero

Fitness and physicality was the obvious issues while the midfielder hadn’t done enough to force his way into the team with the form of Matt Crooks, Jonny Howson and Marcus Tavernier. But Wilder said the language barrier was becoming a problem.

Payero’s only line of communication was through coach Leo Percovich as he couldn’t speak English, and quite possibly still can’t.

There was a degree from Wilder regarding his injuries throughout the season.

Martin Payero playing for the under-23's during his recovery from an ankle injury

23rd April 2022 – Payero returns for another late sub appearance

This time, Payero was brought on to shore things up in the closing stages of Boro’s 1-1 draw with Swansea City.

Riley McGree scored his first goal for the club. More competition in midfield only added to Payero’s woes for the season. He was left out of the matchday squad for the final game of the season, a 4-1 defeat to Preston.

9th June 2022 – Banfield declare their interest

With Payero struggling to adapt to the English game, his former side Banfield were potentially there to pull him aboard from choppy waters.

Manager Claudio Vivas said he was ‘very excited’ by the possible return but admitted it was unlikely given complications of the timing of the English transfer window.

Speculation began to mount that several Argentine clubs were circling Payero with interest.

28th June 2022 – Chris Wilder ‘throws bombs’ under certain players

The Boro boss acted swiftly at the end of the season holding individual discussions with all the players over their own futures.

With Wilder set to enact overhauling change, certain players including Payero were told that their futures could lie elsewhere but they have the chance to change the manager’s mind.

12th July 2022 – Boca Juniors line up loan move

Less than a year since his arrival, Payero looks to be heading for the exit door on Teesside.

Undoubtedly, there is a good player in there. But ultimately beyond a succession of injuries, fitness problems and adaptability issues, he’s not done enough to merit his place in the team.